Earlier text: A PERFECT IDEALIt is claimed by the aristocracy of infidelity,—that is “Higher Criticism,”—that man has developed by “scientific methods”—man’s wisdom—an “entirely new psychology and philosophy.” In other words, man has put off all restraints of faith in God’s Word, disrobed himself of the garments of humility and obedience, so fittingly becoming the attitude of the creature towards the Creator, and assumed the prerogatives of Omnipotence, as did that first critic of God’s ways (see Isa. 14:13-14, John 8:42-47). Science indeed! The same characterized by Paul as “science falsely so-called”! 1 Tim. 6:20. Man’s body has not kept pace with his conceit, else that self-acquired immortality would have landed him in the netherlands long ago. And that assumption is—judged by word and action—that God has somewhere back in the misty ages, undertaken a mighty task, so great indeed that failure is about to overtake Him. So the twentieth century wise (?) men force their services upon Him, ostensibly to “save man;” but really they are repeating the ritual of the first century school; “He saved others; Himself He can not save.” Matt. 27:42. But they would be good enough even to save the Lord, and give us a Scripture worthy the heights of “doctrine and institution” attained by them in tearing down that established by Moses and the prophets, and endorsed unqualifiedly by Him by whom were “all things created.” John 5:45-47; Eph. 3:9. But if the record of “Moses and the prophets” be not true, then there is no Christ; and if there be no Christ, there is no salvation. So these rebellious Nimrods say, “Go to, let us make us a name.” And they have; it is Babylon. “Higher Criticism”—that is, the modern form—began with doubting the Scripture testimony of “Moses and the prophets” and apostles, regarding miracles, “age of man,” and a universal deluge,—in fact, all the basic principles of Judaic truths, so plainly manifest through the “more sure word of prophecy” that the “wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein.” If not repudiated altogether, they have left the remainder so emasculated by groundless criticism as to be powerless or ineffective. With all their “scientific accuracy,” and “thorough comprehensiveness” of modern education, and the blasphemous assertion that “Biblical criticism has made it certain that you can not build Christianity on the Holy Scriptures alone,” still what pigmies they are beside a Moses, an Isaiah, a Daniel, or a Paul! A modern re-incarnation of pagan idolatry is “Higher Criticism.” Paul, speaking by the Spirit, says: The Scriptures “are able to make thee [you and me] wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”—the very essence of Christianity—enough Scripture to justify or condemn the whole human race. 2 Tim. 3:15. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Knowledge of what or whom?—God, surely. How may we gain knowledge of Him?—Through the Scriptures. Alone?—No; through His handiwork as well. How shall we know His handiwork?—Through His law. Where do we learn His law?—In His Word, the Scriptures. For only by the law do we learn who is the Creator. And “God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom.” Dan. 1:7. So there is nothing attainable by man or man-made methods (science) that can equal the wisdom, knowledge, and power to be acquired through God’s Word, and he who repudiates5 that, knocks the foundation of the universe from under his own feet. God is no “respecter of persons,” and He will give good gifts to all “according to their several ability.” Then what a woful account lies at the door of those “mighty ones” of earth, who in effect say: “Everything that God began to do is wrong. We, by our superior attainments, must make it right. But this stupendous failure of a mighty God, is so far-reaching that we can not rectify it all in a short lifetime, so we will re-incarnate till, as the ‘ceaseless’ generations roll on and on, ‘our theories’ will evoke the ‘perfect man’.” Exactly what the devil said to the first family: “Ye shall be as gods.” And thus the “critics” are giving this message to the world to-day, leading millions of earth’s inhabitants away from “Christianity,” away from the Gospel, away from Christ; in whom alone is there salvation. They have “digged the pit” into which they shall fall when their “refuge of lies” is swept away. Isa. 28:17; Ps. 119:85. The inspiration of the Scriptures, their historic integrity, the miracles, their chronology, their prophecies, all in turn have been assailed, and out of every assault emerges the Word, clearer, brighter, stronger, as the day hastens that will behold the fulfilment of its last prophecies, that are now crowding one upon another in full confirmation of that Word. TWO RIVERS.
By S. H. Carnahan
GRANDE RONDE RIVER’s waters flow windingly across one of the most fruitful valleys in Oregon; past city, hamlet, village, and town; among shady copse bowers; thence, through evergreen-bedecked canyons and rock-ribbed gorges, and are delivered where they are hurried by the Snake and Columbia to be swallowed up by the briny deep. But this river bears no comparison, in either beauty or grandeur, to that noble and majestic river to be in this earth when restored from its present, sin-cursed condition to its Edenic purity. The fountain of that river—the river of life—will be at the throne of God and of the Lamb. Rev. 22:1. Its waters are as clear as crystal. And doubtless, as it flows from the city—New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2)—it will, like the river that originally flowed from the Garden of Eden, be separated into four branches (Gen. 2:10); and as these reach out, will spread into all parts of the earth, carrying life and blessings to the inhabitants of the world made new. Those who drink of its waters shall never die (Rev. 21:4), and they will also eat of the fruit of the tree of life, which stands on either side of the river, and which bears twelve manner of fruits, yielding her fruit every month. “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5), “wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). "SOME years ago," says Dr. Bonar, "when traveling through Palestine, we were nearly benighted. We had left Hebron in the morning, and had come leisurely along, passing through Bethlehem, and visiting the gardens of Solomon on the way. The sun began to get low ere we caught our first glimpse of Jerusalem, and, on reaching the plain of Rephaim, we had to increase our speed. In a little time the sun set, and we saw a man come out from the Jaffa gate, and stand upon a hillock, shouting with all his might, as if forewarning of danger, and gesticulating wildly, as if to call our attention to what he was announcing. " 'What is the man saying?' we asked our guide. " 'He is shouting, "Yellah! Yellah!" ' " " 'What does that mean?' " " ' "Come along! Come along!" ' " "We now found we were about to be shut out, and this messenger had come to warn us that the gate was about to be closed. We made haste, as we did not at all relish the thought of being kept all night outside the walls. We were just in time, no more. We entered, and the gate closed behind us. 'The door was shut' (Matt. 25:10). "The lesson we learned was, 'Make haste!' —a lesson which some of us never forgot. So near being shut out of the earthly Jerusalem! What if it were to be not almost, but altogether, shut out of the heavenly city! No time to lose. Too much lost already! "A few days after, a similar incident occurred, which furnished another lesson. We had been wandering all the afternoon on the Mount of Olives, not heeding the time. But at last we saw the sun going down. We hastened to the nearest gate, on the east side of the city. It was closed. There was no admittance. We hastened round the walls to the other gate, which we knew to be kept open a little longer. When we reached it we found ourselves excluded. The gate was shut. We were told, however, that possibly the gatekeeper might relent, and let us in. Alas! the keys had gone to the governor. "What were we to do? It was suggested that a piece of silver might soften the guard's heart, and bring the keys back again. So we thrust a suitable coin in at the keyhole, and waited. In a few minutes the gate opened, and we passed in. The bribe had prevailed. But our admission was against law. "The lesson for us was, 'Be in time.' The gate stands open. The entrance is free. The way is plain. Lose not a moment. Upon one lost moment eternity hinges; and 'it is no trifle to lose eternity.'" — Common People. THE MASTER WORKER.
By Pentecost Herald
WHAT “rough timber” Christ has to “work up” when He gets us in hand! Do you pray to be smoothed down and made patient? Then welcome the answer, “Tribulation worketh patience.” Some one has falsely accused or misjudged you. Did you get sweetness out of it, or did you consider it “entirely uncalled for,” and feel so hurt that your head was bowed, and your “harp hung on the willow”? If so, you have not found sweetness in the trials. God can so bless your trials for your good that you can say of persons who have been a great cross to you, O, what a means of grace they are to me! and thus you can have real sweetness out of every test. As long as you believe your trials are curses, so long will you fail to find real sweetness in them. Job’s sickness and calamities came from the devil, and were intended by his satanic majesty as curses, but were transformed by the creative hand of God into mighty blessings. If we are walking in the light of God, no disappointment, no sorrow, no sickness, no misunderstanding, can be a curse; for “all things work together for good to them that love God.” — Pentecost Herald. How They Became Convinced
By Editor
[Believing it would be of interest to our readers, the editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES has asked Sabbath-keeping ministers and evangelical workers to tell in a few words the scripture or scriptures, the truths and principles, which constrained them to accept the unpopular truth of the seventh-day Sabbath. These testimonies must not exceed 500 words. Let us hear from all.] WHILE waiting in a railway station for a belated train that was to take us to our appointment, we chanced to take from the reading rack the front page of the Review and Herald, which contained an article written by Sister White. We read it carefully, being much impressed with the deep, spiritual thoughts it contained. But a desire had become awakened in us for a better understanding of God's precious truth for this time. Some two years later a young lady came in at my office door, desiring to show me a work she was canvassing for. I told her I did not have time to spare, but if she would let me look at her book a moment, I could tell her whether I wished it or not. I opened and looked at the title page. It was "Great Controversy," written by Mrs. E. G. White. Remembering what I had received from the article which I had read, referred to above, I requested her to bring me a copy at the time of her delivery, which she did. I read the book very carefully, and fully saw the binding claims of God's holy law. I saw that I had been ignorantly trampling His holy Sabbath beneath my feet, and in its place honoring the child of the Papacy—Sunday. I gratefully thanked God for the light, having searched my Bible carefully to know that it was true, and kept the Sabbath for the first time in May, 1895. It was truly a Sabbath to me, for I experienced such a sweet, deep blessing, such as I had never before known. I began to talk it to my people, and it was not long until I was dismissed from my Gospel work, for "Judaizing" and putting "a yoke of bondage" upon others. But, thank God! the yoke was one of freedom, and easily borne. Some two years later a Seventh-day Adventist minister came into our locality, having heard about us. We gladly accepted the message in all its bearings, and cast our lot with the remnant people of God. Such is the way the Sabbath came to me, and how I became convinced. Since that time I have tried, by the help of God, to let this blessed light shine upon others, and my efforts have been graciously blessed of Him. D. P. ZIEGLER. It was while doing housework for a Baptist lady at Danvers, Mass., that I first had my attention intelligently called to the Sabbath truth; and it was by reading the little tract entitled, "Sunday Not the Sabbath," that I was brought to decide. I had been at that place only a few days when, while sweeping and dusting a room, I found the above-named tract. I had read only about half of it when a wonderful flood of light seemed to enter my soul, and many texts of Scripture referring to the commandments came to my mind. I felt happy, thanked the Lord, and decided there and then to keep the seventh day. I had at that time been a member of the Baptist Church about nine years, having been converted at the age of fourteen. Shortly after this I counseled with the lady about doing my work up so that I could keep the Sabbath of the Lord. She looked surprised and said, "Where did you get that idea?" I answered, "From a tract I found on your table." She said, "O, I have a sister who keeps that day, and there is a whole church of them in this place." I silently thanked God, and prepared to meet with the church the following Sabbath. I found dear, Christian friends there who helped me, and took me into their homes and expounded the Word more perfectly. From that time to the present hour I have rejoiced in all parts of the Third Angel's Message as they came to me, and have tried to be faithful in showing to others what a dear truth I had found. I write these few lines to encourage those who love the Lord to be very faithful in distributing literature, even little tracts; for it took only a few paragraphs to convince me of the Sabbath. AMELIA NASON-PRICE. THE GREAT PROVIDER.
By Alexander McLaren
[Alexander McLaren, in S. S. Times.] THE precise miraculous act [of multiplying the loaves] is wrapped in darkness, as all creative acts are; but the lesson stands plain, that Christ has inexhaustible supplies for a hungry world. “He opens His hand, and satisfies the desire of every living” man that brings his hunger to Him. The last row of the five thousand fed as full as the first. The fountain is as brimming over, after millions have drunk from it, as if we were the first that ever plunged thirsty lips into its sparkling basin. Nor is that bread of God merely sufficient for present needs. The broken pieces that remained were far more than the original store. The boy’s provisions would have filled but a corner of one of the twelve baskets that bulged with the remnants. If we will faithfully impart Christ to men, we shall enrich, not impoverish, ourselves. The more we give of Him, the more we have. “There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more.” This gift does not “perish with the using,” but grows as it is eaten for ourselves, and as it is carried to other hungry lips. Honesty More Convincing Than Holiness
THE practise of honesty is more convincing than the profession of holiness.—Ram’s Horn. Union of Church and State.
It was the glory of Protestantism expounded by Martin Luther that it rejected the arm of flesh and looked to God alone. Errors were retained by him and his co-laborers. Some of the forms of the apostate church were continued. The day does not break all at once. The first dawning of the sun illuminates only the mountain tops, but leaves the valleys in shade. But the light is as truly the sunlight as when streaming upon the earth at effulgent noonday. Wickliffe has been called the "morning star" of the Reformation; the light which God gave through Luther, Tindale, and others was the morning dawn. But in Germany, as nowhere else, the movement was separate from the state. Kings and princes would have helped. The Elector of Saxony and Philip of Hesse would have risked their dominions in the defense of the Gospel, but it was not God’s plan, and Luther said them nay. The cause was God’s, was wholly spiritual, as all true, permanent reformations must be, and God must guide by His Word, and furnish a plenitude of power by His Spirit. The hand of civil power must not be put forth to steady the ark of God. Well would it have been if the church of the Reformation had held to this fundamental principle of no alliance in any way with the state, and had coupled with it one equally essential, the forming of no creed. To turn to the state for help is to turn from Christ. To elevate human creeds is to exalt the wisdom of man above the words of God, is to bind about the warm, throbbing words of life by the dead, cold forms of inexpansible law. The true church of Christ can endure neither one nor the other. She can not bow to human authority when God speaks differently. She can not abide by cold creeds, bound by dead hands, when Christ speaks the living words, "Go forward." Every worthy schism from great popular bodies which has occurred in Christendom since the Reformation has been to throw off the paralyzing hand of the state and the fettering shackles of creed. And every worthy schism God has greatly blessed. Witness the Baptists, who have in a measure kept free from both these incumbrances. Witness Congregationalism, Methodism, and Presbyterianism, who cast off the state, but still held to creed. Their intent, of course, was that the creed should express the Word, which in some respects it did, but which sooner or later would come in conflict with truth in the increasing light of truth’s rising sun. In God’s closing message, as has been pointed out, God calls men back to His fear, His worship: "Fear God, and give Him glory; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made the heaven and the earth." Rev. 14:6, 7. Thus is man brought back to the Word of God. By that message God would heal the Babylon of Christendom, and restore Christ as ruler, His Word as guide, His Spirit as power. But Babylon would not. Creed must crumble, and confession of past wrong, mistake, and error must be made; and the proud popular church can not do it. The dead hand of the past is more than God’s present message of light and truth. What is the result? What must ever be the result? When Israel turned from God, she turned to Egypt and Assyria. When she could no longer claim His power she sought the support of the broken reed of civil power. Isaiah 30 and 31. She left her lawful Husband and committed fornication with the kings of earth. The modern church is doing the same. God’s Word, God’s law, Christ’s example, condemn the pseudo-Sunday sabbath, foisted in the place of the Sabbath of the Lord by apostasy, condemn the making void of His law through tradition, condemn the false doctrine of inherent immortal soulism, condemn creed. Attentive ears in every church hear the call. Hearts in every church heed the call. Feet in every church willingly walk in the path of His commandments. Souls in every church drink in of the outpouring Spirit of God, which always accompanies the turning to God’s law. John 14:15, 16. But Babylon will not forsake the error. Creed condemns the "come outers," and the great mass unthinkingly, ignorant of consequence, abide by the creed, and cast out as heretics those who have followed the Word and Christ Jesus. The next step is easy to take; it is the logical step: and that is to call upon the state to enforce dogmas and compel the observance of institutions which are not supported by the Bible. So did Rome in the early centuries. So did the backslidden churches of the post-Reformation period. And so also, at a rapid rate, are the churches of the present day doing all in their power to unite with the state. The state has not asked this union. The state has not wooed the bride of Christ away from allegiance to her Lord. Nay, more, when the church has asked—demanded—of the state that some religious institution—as the Sunday-sabbath—be protected, embodied in statute law, and enforced contrary to the rights of men, the charters of our civil liberty, and the Gospel of Christ, upon the consciences of men, the state has emphatically told the church to keep her place, attend to her own appointed work, and leave the state free to act in its own proper sphere. Yet, notwithstanding this rebuke, notwithstanding the teachings of God’s Word, notwithstanding the ages’ long record of the history of church-and-state union with all its evil results, the church still forces upon the state the constant demand. Her representatives are found in the lobbies of Legislatures; politicians are threatened with retirement; and by entreaty, by superstitious appeal, by political threats, the government has bent under the influence, and three several times committed itself to the evil principle of religious legislation. And thus has this last division of Babylon taken the first decisive steps in fornication, and justified the message, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Later Babylon is following in the footsteps of the old mother, and with her fall is dragging down all the world to everlasting ruin. We know, reader, that the influence of this church over the world promises much. So it did in the early centuries, but it proved a power for evil, the cradle in which was nurtured all the cruelty and persecution of the Dark Ages. To save souls from all this we know of but one, and only one, remedy—the everlasting Gospel; "Fear God, and give Him glory; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him." O, turn to God with full purpose of heart. His Gospel is all-sufficient. A CONTROVERSY SOON TO CLOSE.
FROM Genesis to Revelation, or from Eden lost to Eden restored, we read the long record of a continual controversy. "There was war in heaven," instigated, instituted, by a mind which had set itself at variance with the mind of the Maker. That controversy, that war, was transferred to this earth when Satan purposed to do for man what he had done for the inhabitants of heaven who listened to his conspiracy. God's first admonition to the perfect pair in Eden was controverted by the arch-deceiver. There was a plain contradiction of the Word of God and a flattering encouragement to the pair to disobey God and become like gods themselves. They believed the deceiver, disbelieved their Maker, disobeyed Him. Then they realized in their own hearts and in their own appearance that they had done what they could never undo. Then for the first time they felt remorse, shame, conviction; for the first time realized the feeling of wrong committed. Satan had won his first battle over man. From then till now the agencies of God have been carrying on the operations that are to counteract the result of that victory of Satan over man. But the deceiver had not desisted during any of that time. God taught Adam and Eve the consequence of their rash act, and then laid before them the only hope there was for the race. That hope lay in One who was to be the offspring of woman. So at the birth of Cain Eve declared, "I have gotten a man from the Lord," evidently thinking that this was the One through whom salvation would come. Presumably Satan thought so, too, for he put it into Cain's heart to murder his own brother, and thus forestall the possibility of Cain ever being that One, and doing that redemptive work. Then when God promised a seed to Abraham, Satan sought to adulterate and thwart the plan by bringing in a child in a way altogether different from what God purposed. Ishmael was born; but he was not the child of promise, and he soon showed a malignant spirit toward the one who did fill that place. When Jacob and Esau, sons of Isaac, came to the estate of manhood, a deep and skilful plan was laid to bring about an enmity that would result in the death of Jacob, who was to be the father of the twelve tribes. God overruled in this, and Jacob was spared, to become Israel, the prevailer with God, and the father of "the twelve tribes." Then the malignity of Satan established itself in the hearts of Israel's children, and they sold their own brother into slavery; but God so overruled the result of that act that the slave boy became the instrument through which not only Israel and his offspring but the inhabitants of Egypt and other countries were enabled to subsist through the grievous seven-year famine. Satan meant to cut off the promised Seed by destroying Israel and his entire family. Plotting against Israel's Deliverer.
When the time was ripe for a deliverer to be born who should lead the hosts of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and into the promised land, Satan caused a decree to go forth that all the male children born to the daughters of Israel should be put to death. The command was repeated and emphasized when the midwives were unwilling to become the executioners. Every male child was ordered thrown into the river. That this command was being carried out was shown by the course taken by the mother of Moses, first in hiding him three months at home, and then secreting him in the little water-tight basket among the reeds and rushes of the Nile. Satan meant that Israel should never leave the bondage of Egypt; that Moses, the type of Christ, should never lead the people of God into the typical land of promise, but perish under the decree of Pharaoh. God preserved him, and he led the people out. We find the same spirit manifested toward the youthful David in the court of Saul. Satan knew that David had been anointed to be king of Israel. This accounts for the seemingly erratic course of Saul toward him and the satanic spirit which he showed on the occasions when he attempted to take David's life, and for the persistency with which he sought to accomplish that end. David was destined to be not only the ruler of Israel, but one of the greatest of the prophets, through whom have come to the world the most blessed promises and encouragements7 in all the Bible. Satan would gladly have forestalled all that, as well as the wonderful teachings of wisdom by the son who followed him. But the controversy was not over with that defeat. The enemy of God and man finally brought about the overthrow and the scattering of the whole Jewish nation. He brought them into a bondage apparently as dark as that under which their fathers served in Egypt. But God remembered His promise concerning the Seed through whom should be restored the lost inheritance, through whom man should gain the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Israel, in repentance and deep humility, returns to the promised land, for Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea. He was born of the tribe of Judah, and He was born in the tribal home of Judah. When the time of Christ's birth was at hand, Satan felt that the crucial day had come. So he began to stir up the Roman ruler of Palestine; and finally the decree went forth that the male children of two years and under in Bethlehem and the regions round about should be slain. Satan intended, and Herod supposed, that thus would be accomplished the death of the Child Jesus. Note the similarity between this decree and that of Pharaoh. Foiled in this, Satan pursued the "Seed of the woman" till the seal of the Roman official closed the door of Joseph's new tomb over the sacrificed Redeemer. That seal and all Satan's power could not hold Him, and He came forth, bringing with Him the guarantee of eternal life for every soul who will believe and accept Him. From then till now the wrath of man's enemy has been turned in deadly earnestness against those who accept that sacrifice and that infinite gift. Christ's followers were worn out by that power during the twelve hundred and sixty years of papal persecution, and we are drawing near to that time when another decree is to go forth by the instigation of that same power. This decree is to be directed against "as many as should not worship the image of the beast." The penalty for refusing to perform that act of idolatry is death. Rev. 13:15-17. That is the decree that faces all who will be loyal to God and His truth in the not distant future. It is not difficult in the least to see in this decree the same spirit, the same malignant animosity, the same cruel handiwork, that we have seen at work down through the ages against the purpose of God and the people of God. This last decree, unlike the others prompted by Satan, is to be a universal decree. It is to be against every soul in the world who will not bow to the dictates of that "beast" power, worship it and receive its mark or the number of its name. We hear more and more frequent mutterings of that on-coming storm which is to try the loyalty of every soul. The warnings of the Word concerning it have been faithful warnings, and are now being given. The same being who deceived Adam and Eve into death, plotted the destruction of their posterity, conspired against the life of Moses, against David, against all Israel, against Christ, is planning this last onslaught upon those who purpose to be faithful to their Maker. But the Protector of His people will not leave them in this their "time of Jacob's trouble." Those who shall stand at last upon the sea of glass, having the harps of God, are they who have "gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name." Rev. 15:2. That seals the destiny of every soul upon the earth. A recent sermon declares as to man's good: "Upon the welfare of the whole of which he is a part, depends his own individual welfare." Now that seems good, but it is sophistical and delusive, and doubtless deceived its author. It has been demonstrated in every phase of social life that the statement is not true. There are thousands of individuals who have prospered financially when all around them were poor; and yet their prosperity did not come from their fellows. There are thousands who have acquired knowledge, when all around them were ignorant. There are many who have developed a righteous character through God's grace when their fellows on all sides were selfish and wicked. In political life, the only true way to conserve the rights of all is to guard the rights of the individual. The only eternal salvation to the race comes by saving the individuals. All this talk of elevating the race as a whole, all effort to do it, while passing by the individual, will prove utterly futile. 'NATIONAL REFORM' FULFILLING PROPHECY.
The National Reform Association—which is the progenitor of the International Bureau of Reform, whose headquarters are at Washington, D. C., and whose chief does not hesitate to call it a 'Christian lobby'—is engaged in a determined battle for the full establishment of church and state union. Of course the association writers and speakers always deny this, but its constitution expressly announces the purpose 'to secure such an amendment to the Constitution of the United States as will declare the nation's allegiance to Jesus Christ and its acceptance of the moral laws of the Christian religion, and to indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of our government on an undeniably legal basis in the fundamental law of the land.' If such a consummation would not make a full-fledged church-and-state government, what would constitute such an institution? When 'Christian laws' become state laws, what power will enforce them? Will it not be the power of the state? Will it not be the police and the secular courts that will be called upon to see that people obey the dictates of that which the state will recognize as the Christian Church? That is all that church-and-state union ever was, or ever can be. Then there must inevitably follow the question as to what shall be the standard of 'Christian laws.' If the government, in its various phases, must enforce the laws, it must have some standard of recognition. Suppose it should undertake to enforce all the so-called Christian laws recognized by all the so-called Christians, would there not be a considerable clashing? There surely would, and the state would have to settle which 'Christian laws' should be recognized. And the party having the strongest political influence would be sure to win. Such has always been the case. When the emperor and senate of Rome decided to make Rome a 'Christian nation,' they put 'Christian' laws on 'an undeniably legal basis.' But there were factions in the professed Christian Church, and it was but a few years until the government was obliged to decide which it would recognize as the church, and the decision was made in favor of the Catholics. In Great Britain the same principle prevailed. At one time the Catholics were the stronger element, and the Catholic 'Christian laws' were placed on 'an undeniably legal basis.' Then the government was overturned, and the Covenanter 'Christian laws' were given 'an undeniably legal basis.' Again the tables were turned, and the Catholic 'Christian laws' were placed in the ascendant. And under either power the 'legal basis' of the church's laws were emphatically undeniable. Eventually the Church of England was established, and her 'Christian laws' obtained the 'legal basis.' And to-day the non-conformists are feeling the pressure of being taxed to support the schools of the state church, wherein are taught the 'Christian laws' that are antagonistic to the religion of those who are thus compelled to support them. But these 'Christian laws' are on 'an undeniably legal basis in the fundamental law of the land.' The men who are building the church-and-state structure in the United States imagine that they are wise enough to steer clear of the errors and corruption and persecution that attended the former efforts. But they are doomed to disappointment; for the 'sure word of prophecy' says that it will be an 'image' of the Roman 'beast.' It was Rome that first placed Sunday observance on 'an undeniably legal basis' in the law of the land, and it was the Roman Church that first anathematized those of her members who insisted on loyalty to the Sabbath of the Lord. And in imitation of this, we now have the proposition of a Kansas preacher, an advocate of state religion, to coerce the same class of people. He is authoritatively quoted as saying: 'If we [Sunday observers] would say we will not sell anything to them, we will not buy anything from them, we will not work for them, nor hire them to work for us, the thing could be wiped out, and all the world would keep the Christian Sabbath.' Thus we have the proposition to do just what the prophecy says will be done when the 'image of the beast' is fully established. See Rev. 13:11-17, and then turn to chapter 14:9-11, and there read the doom of those who yield to this coercing power. It is time to 'think on these things,' for the prophecy is fast fulfilling in this country. 1485.—The Twentieth Century New Testament.
What do you think of the 20th Century New Testament? I have lately seen and examined to a considerable extent this version from Romans to Revelation inclusive. What effect is it likely to have upon the public mind in connection with the Third Angel's Message? B. We have said before several times that we know nothing about it whatever to commend. It is not a translation of the original, but a translation of what some men thought that original means. It is not the best modern English; it abounds more in words of Latin derivation than the common translations. Compare, for instance, the following weak, inelegant expressions with the dignified beauty, simplicity, and rhythmic flow of our common version or the revised versions: "Silence, come out from him, He said." Mark 1:25. "To you I say, Get up, take your mat, and go home. The man got up." Mark 2:11, 12. "Levi got up and followed Him." Verse 14. "Jesus got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the lake: Hush, be still. Then the wind dropped, and a great calm followed." Mark 4:39. O, it is cheap, pedantic, light, trifling. We find no trouble in making little children understand the common translation, or the American Standard Revised Version, the best translation of the Bible published. "The 20th Century New Testament" will in nowise affect God's last great message among those who believe the Bible. Its chief use will be that of a commentary among those who can bear it. - Please explain John 13 concerning feet washing. The Saviour, after washing the disciples' feet, said: "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." Was that to be observed by the disciples only in their time, or does it mean for all followers of Christ unto this day?
Why was the ordinance given? What was its object? Does the need exist now? 1. There was strife among the disciples, Luke tells us, as to which should be the greatest. Some wanted to rule, and have the others serve them. Jesus the Master became the lowliest of servants. 2. The object of the ordinance was to teach them that in Love's kingdom the greatest did the most and best service, and the lowliest, too, if called for. "I am among you," said He on another occasion, "as he that doth serve." He wanted to teach them their absolute equality as brethren, as sons of a common Father, as servants of a common Master. 3. Is it not needed now? Is there not the same old strife as to who should be the greatest? Do we not have lord priests and bishops and archbishops and popes? O, if Christ's instructions had been followed, we would never have had the orders and classes and castes in the church of Christ which now exist. Forever would Christ's words have been true, "One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren." We have the counterfeit of it preserved in the Roman Church, where once a year it is said the pope washes the feet of twelve beggars. There is no reason in the world, then, except human pride, why our Lord's example should not be perpetuated; and the pride is not a reason, for it demands its continuance. 5. Note that it was not a mere act of hospitality that Jesus performed; for Peter knew what that meant, but he did not know this act of our Lord. Verse 7. The real knowledge of its meaning would only come through spiritual enlightenment. It was necessary for Peter to take part in this and so learn the lowly spirit of true service, or he would separate from his Lord. Verse 8. And, finally, there is no limitation of duration or place in the words of Christ: "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought [are obligated] to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you. . . . If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them." Verses 14-17. What would not the Sunday-keeper give for such evidence as this for Sunday observance? He would ask no more. He would deem it all-sufficient. Is it not sufficient for the perpetuation of feet washing, rightly called the ordinance of humility?